A Biblical Theology of the Testament of Benjamin
1. The Testament of Benjamin in Context
The Testament of Benjamin is the final work in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, attributed to Benjamin, the twelfth son of Jacob and Rachel. Like the other testaments, it is framed as a farewell discourse in which the patriarch exhorts his children with ethical instruction, confession, and prophecy. Its title in some manuscripts is “concerning a pure mind” or “to love one’s neighbor,” which reflects its central focus on purity of heart, love, and forgiveness.
Benjamin was remembered as “a son of old age” (Genesis 44:20), the youngest and most beloved of Jacob’s sons. The Testament draws on this biblical background and expands it with reflections on Benjamin’s innocence, his recognition of Joseph, and his call for a life of purity. It provides both ethical and eschatological instruction, presenting the covenant life of Israel in light of the coming Messiah and the future hope of resurrection.
2. Structure and Themes
The Testament of Benjamin is composed of multiple chapters, combining autobiographical notes, moral teaching, and prophetic vision. Its themes can be summarized as follows:
Confession of innocence and recognition of Joseph (ch. 1–2).
Warnings about Beliar and the seven evils (ch. 3, 7).
Exhortations to love, forgiveness, and purity of mind (ch. 4–6).
Prophecy of the Messiah and universal salvation (ch. 9–11).
Final blessing and death (ch. 12).
The Testament, like others in this collection, blends Jewish ethical teaching with eschatological expectation. It envisions Israel’s failure, exile, and eventual restoration through the Messiah, who is foreshadowed in Benjamin’s exhortations.
3. Purity of Mind and Love of Neighbor
The Testament emphasizes purity of heart as the foundation of righteousness. Benjamin exhorts his sons to keep a “pure mind” that rejoices in good, seeks peace, and avoids envy (Benjamin 5:1–3). To love one’s neighbor is presented as the practical outworking of this purity (Benjamin 3:5–6).
This focus reflects continuity with the Torah, which commanded Israel to love God and neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18), and anticipates Christ’s summary of the law in Matthew 22:37–40. The Testament therefore shows how covenant faith is both ethical and relational, pointing forward to the Gospel command that “the one who loves his brother abides in the light” (1 John 2:10).
4. Warnings Against Hatred and Beliar
Benjamin warns against the destructive power of hatred, envy, and lying, which he associates with the work of Beliar—the demonic adversary. The “spirit of Beliar” afflicts the mind, leading to seven great evils: murder, corruption, ruin, destruction, blasphemy, deception, and violence (Benjamin 7:1–2).
This dualistic worldview reflects the broader theology of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, where humanity stands between the forces of God’s Spirit and the deception of Beliar. For Benjamin, resisting hatred and clinging to purity of mind is essential for covenant faithfulness. The New Testament affirms this battle: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
5. Joseph as a Model of Righteousness
A major feature of the Testament is Benjamin’s praise of Joseph, who overcame hatred and forgave his brothers. Benjamin recalls being the first to recognize Joseph (Benjamin 2:1), and he portrays his older brother as sinless, enduring suffering for the sake of others (Benjamin 3:6–8).
Joseph becomes an ethical model of forgiveness and chastity, standing against the temptations of envy and impurity. In this way, Joseph prefigures Christ himself—the righteous one who was betrayed, suffered innocently, and provided salvation through his endurance. As Joseph forgave his brothers, so Christ forgave his enemies, embodying the covenantal mercy of God.
6. The Messiah and Eschatological Hope
Like other testaments, Benjamin’s discourse moves beyond ethics to eschatology. He predicts that Israel will fall into sin, suffer exile, and then experience salvation through the Messiah. This salvation will not be limited to Israel but extend to the Gentiles, reflecting a universal vision of God’s kingdom (Benjamin 9:2).
Strikingly, the Testament refers to “the sinless one who suffers” (Benjamin 3:8) and mentions “the blood of the covenant” (Benjamin 3:8), language that Christians readily connect with Jesus’ death (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 13:20). It also speaks of the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous (Benjamin 10:6–8), echoing Daniel 12:2 and anticipating New Testament teaching (John 5:28–29).
The Testament even mentions the “New Jerusalem” (Benjamin 10:12), one of the earliest occurrences of this expression in Jewish literature, paralleling Revelation 21:2.
7. Forgiveness, Repentance, and Renewal
Benjamin’s ethical teaching emphasizes forgiveness and reconciliation. He calls his sons to forgive their brothers and restore them when they repent, reflecting Leviticus 19:17 and anticipating Christ’s command in Luke 17:3. Hatred, he warns, blinds the mind, but repentance restores light to the soul (Benjamin 6:3–4).
The Testament presents repentance as a divine gift: “Repentance knoweth how to receive those who return” (Benjamin 5:8). This echoes the Gospel’s teaching that repentance is granted by God (Acts 11:18). For Benjamin, the path of repentance is not simply moral correction but covenant renewal that leads to blessing and eternal life.
8. Dualism and the Final Judgment
The Testament reflects the strong dualism of Second Temple Judaism, setting before its audience two ways: the way of purity, forgiveness, and life, and the way of envy, hatred, and death. Benjamin teaches that every soul is tested by these paths, but God will ultimately bring justice through resurrection and judgment (Benjamin 10:6–8).
This apocalyptic vision is not merely moral but eschatological: the wicked will face shame, while the righteous will inherit crowns of glory (Benjamin 4:1). This anticipates the New Testament hope of resurrection and reward (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).
9. The Testament of Benjamin and the Gospel
The Testament’s call to purity of mind, love of neighbor, and forgiveness aligns with the ethic of Christ’s kingdom. Its vision of Joseph as a type of the righteous sufferer points to Jesus, the true sinless one. Its prophecy of the Messiah, the covenant in blood, and the New Jerusalem finds fulfillment in the Gospel, where Christ establishes his reign and ushers in the new creation.
For Christians, the Testament of Benjamin offers both ethical guidance and eschatological hope. It reminds the church that hatred and envy must be cast off, that forgiveness and reconciliation embody the covenant, and that Christ’s victory over sin and death guarantees the coming kingdom.
Conclusion
The Testament of Benjamin closes the collection of the twelve with a profound meditation on purity, forgiveness, and the hope of resurrection. It calls God’s people to a pure mind, to love one’s neighbor, and to reject the malice of Beliar. It affirms repentance as the way to renewal and sets forth the Messiah as the sinless one who suffers for the salvation of many.
By weaving together ethics and eschatology, Benjamin’s discourse bridges the covenant faith of Israel with the kingdom hope of the Gospel. It remains a powerful witness that in the last days, God’s people are called to endure in love, forgive as they have been forgiven, and look to the coming New Jerusalem where Christ reigns forever.
Bible Verses Related to the Testament of Benjamin
Genesis 44:20 – “His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.”
Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being.”
Daniel 12:2 – “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.”
Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Luke 17:3 – “If your brother repents, forgive him.”
John 5:28–29 – “All who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.”
Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.”
